You come back from a long day of school, grab a snack, open Spotify, and put in your AirPods for a one-hour listen to Taylor Swift. Or maybe you’re more of a Drake or Travis Scott fan. But have you ever wondered where all this modern music comes from? It all started around one hundred years ago…

The Late 1800s

The first popular-song industry, Tin Pan Alley, came to light in the 1890s, incorporating European operetta styles in plays to inspire musicals. During this time, African Americans experimented with ragtime, mixing together both African and European musical rhythms and song structures. This would soon spark the emergence of jazz music. 

The Roaring ‘20s

The 1920s is most popularly known as the “Jazz Age.” Jazz music flooded American radios, fashion, and culture. This time period also welcomed the blues, swing, and ragtime. All these genres were deeply influenced by African American culture and heritage. After the First World War, people felt free and started to express themselves on dance floors, combining these fresh styles of music with dances such as the Shimmy, Charleston, and Black Bottom.

Rockin’ ‘50s

This era of time marked the explosion of rock and roll. The migration of African Americans to the North in the 1950s inspired rhythm and blues, a cross between blues elements and jazz rhythms. Rock and roll sequentially followed as a blend of rhythm and blues and country styles, led by influential figures such as the “King of Rock and Roll” himself, Elvis Presley. Starting in the United States, rock soon became a widespread genre in other European countries. By the 1960s, British rock bands, most prominently the Beatles, changed the way the world viewed musical expression and emotion. By the 1970s, rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, and AC/DC took the stage and continued to influence rock and roll. This period encompassed many other related genres such as metal, punk, indie, and Britpop. 

Pop ‘90s-2000s

The 1990s introduced a variety of diverse music genres from grunge to hip-hop, alternative rock to R&B, and pop. It was a period of time heavily influenced by feelings of angst and discontent. Being an eclectic and very expressive age, the ‘90s were filled with dark and edgy grunge but carefree and lively pop music. One of the most notable pop figures during this time was Micheal Jackson, or as some like to call him: the “King of Pop.” His innovative sense of singing and dancing greatly impacted the music of future generations. Other notable bands/artists during this time include Nirvana, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Arctic Monkeys. 

Today

Today’s contemporary music is deeply inspired by the past. Every song consists of years and years of music history. Next time you catch yourself listening to Taylor Swift, know that Paul McCartney was first on her lovers list.